It will forever remain in the memory of all cynology enthusiasts!

Do you enjoy our section "Legends of Czechoslovak cynologies"? So you can't miss this commemorative article either! This time we will introduce Slovak cynologist, breeder and judge from the performance and exterior of NO Mr. Eugen Richnovský to our imaginary hall of fame!

In the past year, the cynological public commemorated the 80th birthday of the prominent Slovak cynologist Eugen Richnovský, who since the middle of the XX. century devoted all his free time to breeding and intensive training of working and service breeds. Thus, Eugen Richnovský will forever remain in the memory of all cynology enthusiasts as a pleasant and always smiling partner, friend and vocal expert.

He entered cynology in 1951 somewhat unconventionally – originally, he wanted to be an aircraft modeller, but since they did not have a modeling club in Hodruš – Hámry, the local chairman of the Union suggested that he join a well-functioning cynological club and initially offered him to participate in dog training for the needs of the race guard of the Sandrik company.

Author's note: Union – Union for Cooperation with the Army; It brought together modeling, shooting, motorsport and cynological clubs of amateur enthusiasts, which prepared in these areas' experts potentially usable in the service of the military, but at the same time supported and educated youth in specific skills.

Service cynology – that was something!

Eugen Richnovský was introduced to the secrets of service cynology by his first training instructor, Mr. Šimon Palaj from Nová Bane, who was a graduate of the First Course of Civilian Instructors and Trainers organized by the Czechoslovak People's Army in the Czech cynological base in Grabštejn.

Eugen Richnovský liked service cynology so much that already in 1953, at the age of fourteen, he attended a two-week course of dog handlers and instructors of the Union in Grabštejn III. The training course was then led by Mr. Ján Skuhrovský (obedience training), mjr. Josef Štůla (scent work) and Kpt. František Vokoun (defense work).

Among the dogs that Eugen Richnovský never forgot was especially his German shepherd dog TÁŇA SNB: "It was an extremely intelligent and understanding animal. At the rehearsals in Bojnice, its judge – Mr. Ján Bačík from Bytča gave one hundred points on the scent work. Daniel Stanko, DVM, said similarly about her, her character and abilities at the bonitation ceremony in Topoľčany. Unfortunately, externally it was only good..." (Eugen Richnovský in Newspaper of Cynologists 1-2/2010)

He has bred several successful animals...

In 1958, Eugen Richnovský entered basic military service in Nový Jičín, Czech Republic, and after graduating from the non-commissioned officer school, he was transferred to Klatov. However, he was not classified as a dog handler, so in his spare time he attended local cynological clubs in both cities.

After returning from the military, he applied for the protected name of the kennel from Richnovský dvor and bred several successful animals that qualitatively influenced the breeding of German shepherds not only in Slovakia but also abroad. The most important individuals certainly included – HANS, HAGA, ORSI, SYRT, SIX, SAGA, URT and XIRA from Richnovský dvor (which was owned by the central advisor of German shepherd breeding of the Slovak Republic, Mgr. Ivan Kočajda).

"XIRA from Richnovský dvor was a very successful – at the national exhibition in Bratislava I won with her at MVDr. Then I managed to do it at the Regional Exhibition in Liptovský Mikuláš. She was a of good type and expression, excellently pigmented, with very good dynamics of movement mechanics..." (memory of its then doghandler, currently the president of the Association of Sports Cynology of the Slovak Republic, Mgr. Juraj Štaudinger) 

Judge for performance, but also for the exterior

Eugen Richnovsky acted as a performance judge, but also as a judge for judging the exterior of the German Shepherd breed. He cooperated very closely with the security forces, especially with the then chiefs of the Public Security Service Dog Training Centre in Bratislava's Mlynská Valley – first with Capt. Štefan Jančár and later with Lt. Col. Karol Kadlečovič. In central Slovakia, he cooperated with other cynologists of the then Public Security – Kpt. Mikuláš Hamrák and Kpt. Ján Vician, but also with other cynologists of Public Security, up to the district level.

"German Shepherd breeding in Slovakia was probably helped the most by importing dogs Vello v. Michaelstädter Rathaus and Jalk v. Bachgautal – these dogs significantly influenced German shepherd breeding in Slovakia. After these dogs, he bred with a bunch of top animals that stood out not only externally, but also in character, and even corresponded to the type in demand today. For me, Mr. Eugen Richnovský was the personification of modesty, consistency and expertise." (Central Advisor of German Shepherd Breeding Mgr. Ivan Kočajda)

Eugen Richnovský also had a qualitative significant influence on the breeding of the newly emerging Czechoslovakian Vlciak.

Eugen Richnovský's interest in the newly emerging Czechoslovakian Vlciak breed was triggered by acquaintance with the then chief cynologist of the 11th Border Guard Brigade, Major František Rosík, commander of the PS kennel in Malacky npor. Ján Gabriš (reached the rank of captain) and chief cynologist of the Main Administration of the PS and State Border Protection in Prague, Lt. Col. Ing. Karel Hartl (reached the rank of colonel). Eugene Richnovský was so impressed by Hartl's project of interspecific crossing of a she-wolf with a German shepherd dog, and Rosík's breeding efforts in creating breeding lines for the newly emerging breed Czechoslovakian Vlciak so impressed that as part of Rosík's efforts to successfully raise and socialize puppies in the environment of ordinary households, he gradually took over several puppies for education and training in order to better know the character traits and abilities of the Czechoslovakian Vlciak breed (e.g. for MJR. Rosík also trained a distinguished breeder REP from PS).

"We worked very closely with Evžen, we placed so-called reverse of interspecies crossing, later Czechoslovakian Vlciaks, with whom he bred several quality puppies for us. One of these puppies, DAR z PS by Lord z PS, served as a service dog at the District Department of Public Security in Lučenec. As part of the breeding and breeding of this breed, Evžen also took part in the first gathering of Czechoslovakian Vlciaks in 1982 at Zochova chata near Modra, and we also delegated him to the constituent meeting of the Czechoslovakian Vlciak Breeders Club in Brno." (zo spomienok Maj. (ret.) František Rosík).

Author's Note:

DAR of the Border Guard *19.8.1977 ev. no. 329 (father: Lord of PS F3, mother: Bessi of PS F3/F3), who carried the blood of the wolf Argo on his paternal side and the blood of the she-wolf Brita on his mother's side.

From the last words that Eugen Richnovsky addressed to cynologists before his death on January 31, 2011: "Let me wish all of you in cynology a lot of good health and success, so that you can turn the imaginary wheel of cynology again..." (Eugen Richnovský in Noviny cynologistov 1-2/2010).

Some Czechoslovakian Vlciak that "passed through the hands" of Eugene Richnovsky to contribute to the successful development of the breed:

CARO z PS *14.1.1977 ČsHPK 38/77 born by Eugen Richnovský in Hodruš – Hámroch (father: Lord z PS F3 ← Ink SNB F2 ← Ura SNB ← wolf Argo; mother: Besi z PS F3+F3 ← Tesák z PS F3 ← Santa z PS F2 ← Bikar z PS F1 ← wolf Brita).

NUK from PS *17.9.1979 ČsHPK 1/79 born with Eugen Richnovský in Hodruš – Hámroch (father: Prim from PS ← Ciko from PS ← Santa from PS F2 ← Bikar from PS F1 ← Brita she-wolf; mother: Irza from PS ← Lord from PS + Mona from PS F4 ← Pluto from PS F3 ← Santa from PS F2 ← Bikar from PS F1 ← Brita she-wolf). Nuka from PS was owned by Ľubo Matuška from Zvolen, who achieved with him the highest levels of performance exams at that time: SVV3 (versatile), SPO (defender) and SPS (tracker); photo archive of P. Krotkovsky

Taking over the on the reverse meant that the keeper handed over selected puppies to the Border Guard after keeping the – Eugen Richnovsky, among other animals, received an ARA from the Border Guard on the reverse *20.10.1977 (father: Odon from PS F3 mother:

Riza from PS F4 – who carried the blood of the she-wolf Brita and the wolf Argo), with whom he bred a litter named on the letter "A" under the protected name of his kennel on 10.7.1982 – were dogs AR, ARK, ART and AX, and AKIMA, ALMA, ASTRA, ATA and AXA from Richnovský dvor, of which mainly significantly contributed to further breeding of the Czechoslovakian Vlciak.

GAR z Rosíkovo CS *25.4.1985 ČsHPK 245/85/87, class winner, breed winner, CAC (father: Archibald from Ivanka pri Dunaji CS, mother: Alma from Richnovský dvora CS); after the father and mother of the bloodline of the wolf Sharik; photo archive of Peter Krotkovsky

AŠA Turčan *24.10.1987 ČsHPK 660/87/90 (father: Arco z Doušova dvora ČsHPK 145/84/86, mother: Agata z Ivanka pri Dunaji ČsHPK 62/83); while Arca's father was Ayak from Vlama ČsHPK 41/82 and mother Ata from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 29/82

AJA Frovan *12.1.1988, ČsHPK 777/88/91, excellent, Central European winner of working class, CAC (father: Gar from Rosíkovo CS ČsHPK 245/85/87, class winner, breed winner, CAC; mother: Atira od Pavlišina ČsHPK 425/86/89); while Gar was the son of Archibald from Ivanka pri Dunaji ČsHPK 55/83/85 and mother Alma from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 28/82/85

ALMA by Grandtnerov *5.1.1989, ČsHPK 912/89/94, winner of class opened 1993, 2x res. CAC, CAC (father: Binc Hospitality ČsHPK 483/86/89, mother: Beckie from Lisého dvor ČsHPK 541/86/89), who was the daughter of Atos from Belešov, ČsHPK 44/82/85, winner of SSR and mother Ax from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 32/82/86

ASTA from Grandtners *5.1.1989, ČsHPK 914/89/94, winner of Bratislava, winner of Slovakia, winner of breed, club winner, 3x class winner, 3x CAC (father: Binc Hospitality ČsHPK 483/86/89, mother: Beckie from Lisého dvora ČsHPK 541/86/89), who was the daughter of Atos from Belešov, ČsHPK 44/82/85, winner of SSR and mother Ax from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 32/82/86

ANDY Šedá eminence *4.10.1989, ČsHPK 1000/89/91 on a photo from the photo archive of P. Krotkovský (father: Gar z Rosíkova ČsHPK 245/85/87 CAC, winner of the breed, champion of Czechoslovakia, mother: Cita z Banišťa ČsHPK 685/87/90), while Andy's father Gar z Rosíkova ČsHPK 245/85/87 CAC, winner of the breed, champion of Czechoslovakia was son of Archibald z Ivanky pri Dunaji ČsHPK 55/83 and mother Alma z Richnovského dvora ČsHPK 28/82/85

ARANKA from Šedý dol *25.9.1989, ČsHPK 961/89/91(father: Barry from Doušova dvora CS ČsHPK 208/85/88, class winner, district winner, mother: Aba Vepa ČsHPK 330/85/88, class winner), while Barry's father was Ayak from Vllama ČsHPK 41/82 and mother Ata from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 29/82

EFÉB Dór *25.6.1994 SPKP 2028-2035 (father: Bruso od Grandtnerov ČsHPK ČSV 1362/94 excellent; mother: Chasa Ruskav dvor CsHPK ČSV 1670/94); while Brus' mother Beckie from Lisý dvor, ČsHPK 541/89, was the daughter of Atos from Belešov ČsHPK 44/82 and mother Axa from Richnovský dvor, ČsHPK 32/86

ZÁBOJ z Rosíkova *28.9.1994 SPKP 2077-2080 (father: Máj z Rosíkova ČsHPK 731/87/92, mother: Bona ze Šedého dolu ČsHPK 968/89/91); Bona's father Barry z Doušův dvora ČsHPK 208/85/88 was son Ayaka z Vlama ČsHPK 41/82 and mother Ata z Richnovského dvora ČsHPK 29/82

ACAR Preza *31.10.1994, SPKP 2068-2076 (father: Cilly Trenčan ČsHPK 1433/94, mother: Ara Heol ČsHPK 646/94); while Arina's father Barry from Doušov court ČsHPK 208/85/88 was the son of Ayak from Vllama ČsHPK 41/82 and mother Ata from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 29/82

BOJAR from Ciriakovho dvora *5.12.1994 SPKP 2130-2132 (father: Orlík z Krotkovský dvora ČsHPK 1597/94 RCAC, district winner, mother: Andy Šedá eminence ČsHPK 1000/91); while Anda's father Gar from Rosíkov ČsHPK 245/85/87 was the son of Archibald from Ivanka pri Dunaji ČsHPK 55/83 and mother Alma from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 28/82/85

DANO from Ciriak's Court *28.12.1995 SPKP 2258-2263 (father: Orlík z Rosíkovo ČsHPK 770/90 district winner, class winner; mother: Andy Gray Eminence ČsHPK 1000/91 excellent), while Anda's father Gar from Rosíkovo ČsHPK 245/85/87 CAC, winner of the breed, was the son of Archibald from Ivanka pri Dunaji ČsHPK 55/83 and mother Alma from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 28/82/85

CAR Kysucká hviezda *4.1.1995, SPKP 2145-2150 (father: Athos Chocholan ČsHPK 1690/95 class winner, mother: Aipa Jimili ČsHPK 634/92 district winner, winner of open class), while Aipa's father Argos from Doušov court ČsHPK 146/88 CWC, district winner; he was the son of Ayaka from Vllama ČsHPK 41/82 and mother Ata from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 29/82

ARIF Dvor pod Dubom *6.2.1995, SPKP 2163-2166 (father: Bruso od Grandtnerov ČsHPK ČSV 1362/94 excellent; mother: Asta Dvor Engo ČsHPK 1854/93 class winner); whereas Brus's mother Beckie from Lisý dvora ČsHPK 541/89 was the daughter of Atos from Belešov ČsHPK 44/82 and mother Axa from Richnovský dvor ČsHPK 32/86,

Peter Nevolný thanks the member of the Slovak Police and Historical Society plk. Mgr. Bc. Juraj Štaudinger for agreeing to use the biographical data of Eugen Richnovský found by him.

Taken from:

Navždy zostane v pamäti všetkých nadšencov kynológie! | Kynologický magazín eCanis.cz

Translated utilizing Google